Rail-joint.



L. B. JOYNER.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED APB.21, 1913.

1,070,481 Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

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LANSON BENTLY JOYNER, OF WASHINGTON, L OUISIANA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19,1913.

Application filed Apri1 21, 1913 Serial No. 762,688.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LANSON BEN'lL-Y JoYNnR, acitizen of the United States, residing at WVashington, in the parish ofSt. Landry and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to rail joints and has for an object to providean extremely simple rail joint that will be strong and rigid, and willemploy novel wedge fish plates for securing the rails against relativedisplacement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail joint which willbe constructed of a few simple parts that will not easily get out oforder.

A still further object is to provide a rail joint in which the abuttingrails interfit in such a manner that vertical displacement of the railsrelative to each other will be positively prevented.

lVith the above objects in view the invention consists of certain noveldetails of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed, it being understood that various modificationsmay be made in the minor details of construction within the scope of theappended claims.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating this invention: Figure 1 is aside elevation of my improved rail joint. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3is a horizontal sectional view on the line 33 Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is avertical sectional view on the line 4t4l Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of referencedesignate similar parts, 10 and 11 designate abutting rail ends, therail 10 being cut away at the end through the head web and base flangeto produce a V-shaped recess 12 and the rail 10 being cut away at theend through the head, web and base flange to produce a V- shaped tongue13 which fits in the V-shaped recess 12 whereby vertical relativedisplacement of the rails is prevented.

For coupling the rails together I provide a pair of substantiallyL-shaped fish plates 14 and 15, the vertical leg of each plate being ofuniform height throughout, and the horizontal leg tapering in width fromthe thick end to the opposite end whereby a resultant wedge-shaped fishplate is produced. The vertical leg 16 is designed to bear upon the websand underneath faces of the heads of both rails of the rail j oint whilethe hori zontal leg 17 is designed to bear upon the top faces of thebase flanges of both rails.

Disposed on the outer edges of the base flange of the rail 10 areupstanding flanges 18, and disposed on the outer edges of the baseflange of the rail 11 are upstanding flanges 19, the related flanges 18and 19 on the same side of the rails having their abutting faces beveledas shown at 20 in the same plane as the corresponding faces of thetongue 13 and recess 12. There are spike openings 21 and 22 formed inthe flanges 18 and 19 to receive the spikes 23 and 2A which anchor therails to the ties 25. The flanges 18 and 19 on the same side of therails coact in producing an abutment flange for the base leg of therelated L-shaped flsh plate, which abutment flange tapers in thicknessfrom one end to the opposite end to conform to the corresponding taperof said base leg whereby when the fish plate is slid into position andthen tightly driven home the fish plate will be wedged snugly inposition and held against accidental escape.

The wedge-shaped fish plates are driven into position from opposite endsof the rail joint this operation being accomplished by sliding the fishplates respectively in opposite directions longitudinally of the railsinto position whereupon the fish plates may be tapped with a sledge orsimilar tool to snugly wedge them in place. Set screws 26 are in thepresent embodiment of the invention passed through the fish plates 14:and 15 and into the webs of the rails 10 and 11 to secure the fishplates against being shaken loose by vibration of the rails.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided anextremely simple and effective rail joint which is formed of a few partsthat will not easily get out of order, and which is strong and rigid,and will be proof against displacement.

WVhat is claimed, is

1. A rail joint including the combination with interfitting rail ends,said rail ends having wedge-shaped abutment flanges rising from the baseflanges, of wedge-shaped fish plates passed in opposite directionslongitudinally of said rail ends and wedged by said flanges againstrelated outer faces of said rail ends.

2. A rail joint including the combination with interfitting rail ends,said rail ends having wedge-shaped abutment flanges rising from the baseflanges,-of a pair of- L- shaped fish plates passed in oppositedirections longitudinally of said rail ends and wedged by said flangesagainst the related outer faces of said rail ends. I

3. A rail joint including the combination with interfitting rail ends,said rail ends having wedge-shaped abutment flanges rising from the baseflanges, of L-shaped fish plates each tapering from one end to theopposite end in thickness, said fish plates being passed in oppositedirections longitudinally of said rail ends and being wedged by saidflanges against the related faces of said rail ends.

4. A rail joint including the combination with interfltting rail ends,said rail ends having wedge-shaped abutment flanges rising from the baseflanges, of L-shaped fish plates passed in opposite directionslongitudinally of related faces of said rail ends, each fish platehaving the base leg tapering in width from one'end .to the opposite end,

said base leg being engaged by the related abutment flange whereby thefish plate is wedged securely in position.

' 5. A rail joint including the combination with interfitting rail ends,one of which is cutaway at the end through the head web and base flangeto produce a V-shaped recess, and the other of which is cut away at theend through the head web and base longitudinally of said rail ends andwedged,

by said abutment flanges against related outer faces of said rail ends.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX'my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

LANSON BENTLY JOYNER. c

WVitn esses VINCENT PAPO,

R. NV. CLARK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. G. i

